NEC is reportedly selling goalkeeper Robin Roefs to Sunderland for a record fee. According to The Athletic, VI, and de Gelderlander, the keeper is moving to the Premier League club for €10.5 million.
The 22-year-old Roefs has impressed at NEC in recent seasons, where he succeeded club icon Jasper Cillessen in goal. The Brabander was also the first-choice goalkeeper for Jong Oranje at the youth European Championship in Slovakia last summer in the absence of Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
In addition to the €10.5 million transfer fee, NEC could also receive €3 million in bonuses and a sell-on percentage. This is collectively more than half of NEC’s budget, which is just over €20 million. Roefs still had a three-year contract in Nijmegen.
Roefs will be the first player ever in NEC’s history to be sold for more than €10 million. The sales record was previously held by Magnus Mattsson, who moved to FC Copenhagen for €5 million a year and a half ago.
Sunderland was promoted to the Premier League last season, resulting in the club receiving an additional €200 million in revenue. ‘The Black Cats,’ who are playing at the highest level for the first time since 2017, have already spent €116 million on the transfer market.